DEPLOYMENT 11: When Blue Turned to Gray

[walking_nuke]

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[DREAM - DECEMBER 16 (Early Morning)]

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[answerer_sword]

[Bazett has just retuned from the general store, a bag filled with cans of instant coffee in tow. She stops when she sees the man's armband.]

Are those some kind of runes?

[She has never seen runes like those before. She wonders what sort of effect they are meant to have.]

[walking_nuke]

[Balin looks up from the sidewalk, having appeared lost in thought.]

Huh? Oh-you mean'a Logos elements?

[He glances at the armband.]

Yeah, somethin' like'at. They're ... What do'ose linguists call 'em? Ideograms? Pictographs?

[answerer_sword]

Do they have any specific meaning?

[She wonders what this man could be using the runes for. Seeing how they are being worn on the arm, perhaps it is to increase his strength?]

[walking_nuke]

Yeah. Just as writin' like'is, though.

[He holds up the armband better for Bazett to see.]

Means "remember'a defeat of our planet."

[answerer_sword]

Oh.

[She had been wrong. It was not a spell, but a simple message.]

It must be a sobering thing to remember, especially at this time of year.

[She knows very well what it means to come from a formerly dominated land. Even now, her homeland of Ulster is still embroiled in the centuries' old conflict regarding its identity.]

[walking_nuke]

Yeah. It's been seven years since I seen Earth.

[A beat. He taps the sidewalk with the heel of a shoe.]

My Earth, at least.

[answerer_sword]

You...must miss it a lot.

[Now that she thinks about it, she feels just a little homesick for her hometown. Unlike this man, she had left her home by choice. Also, if she was to ever find a way back to her world, she still had a home to return to. If even she felt homesick, then it must be much worse for this man.]

[walking_nuke]

Yeah ... I do.

[He sounds a little more subdued when saying that.]

But-there ain't anything left on Earth'a miss, after'a Bane invaded. Even if we do retake'a Earth someday-it's gonna be like startin' all over again.

[answerer_sword]

...

[There are so many people in this city that came from worlds worse than hers. People who had lost family, friends, and even homeworlds. Compared to them, the bad things in her life seemed insignificant.]

You have my condolences.

[The next words she mutters under her breath.]

Why does this make me feel like calling my parents the second I get back to my world?

[walking_nuke]

Eh. Thanks.

[He's being sincere about that, even if his tone of voice sounds a little subdued. For a few moments, his eyes lose focus, as if he were looking at something far away.]

Don't put it past ya wantin'a call your folks. Wish I coulda done that. Speak to 'em one last time, yanno? Never had'a chance.

[answerer_sword]

[She is silent for a while. Talking to this man has finally made her realize how homesick she was...as well as how selfish she was. Yes, at home, she was a lonely person--the only thing close to a friend that she had was Father Kotomine. But much of that had been her own fault. She was the one who had refused to form bonds with people. Yes, once she left here, she would never see Lancer again, but to ever seen him in the first place was an impossible dream. Being able to see him for the time that she would remain here should be enough. She had not spoken to her family in years; they had cut off contact when she joined the Association against their protests. But they were still alive. Once she returned to her world, she would be free to call them at any time and mend her currently strained relationship with them. She could visit them during her vacations, spend holidays with them

[walking_nuke]

[Balin nods.]

Yeah. If I get my way? We'll be all back home.

[Although his expression sours again as he glances at the red bandanna on his arm. He sounds a bit doubtful.]

But'at's a big "if," for now.

[answerer_sword]

I would rather be home too, but right now, our attentions should not be on getting home, but simply finding a way to reverse the town's latest effect.

[walking_nuke]

[Balin rubs the back of his neck, sighing.]

Yeah. I'm SOL on ideas for'at. Shit, I can't ... you know'ose people'ey listed on'a television a few days back? I don't even know any of 'em. One of 'ems livin' in my house, though. Or ... her replacement is.

[answerer_sword]

There were no replacements.

[She had figured that out last night.]

The only thing that was ever messed with was our memories. Our warped perception of the supposed constructs comes from some sort of barrier effect.

[walking_nuke]

[(1/2)]

Wait, what?!

[Balin's jaw drops.]

You mean all'is time-they were fuckin' with our heads-?!